To talk about synthetic natural gas, polygeneration systems, ammonia as a carbon-free fuel, converting bio-waste into sustainable fuels is to approach the day-to-day work of the research groups that form part of the Circular Economy Laboratory of the Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A) and that face the challenges of achieving advances for a more sustainable society that does not endanger the development of the economy and social wellbeing.
The laboratory brings together the research carried out at this centre of the University of Zaragoza in the search for new energy supply systems that are closer to carbon neutrality, are more resilient and emit fewer pollutants, giving a new life to waste.
In this sense, the I3A has a long history of work in renewable resources, as well as in the reuse and recycling of waste. Around the Circular Economy Laboratory, a dozen lines of research focus on energy and environment, hydrogen technologies, recycling and giving new added value to waste, packaging, food quality and safety and agri-food technologies.
Five research groups focus on sustainable thermal systems, thermal energy efficiency, hydrogen as an energy vector, biogas exploitation, biofuels from waste, active packaging of renewable materials or green chemistry in agriculture.
Some ongoing research
- Ammonia as a carbon-free energy carrier
The Thermochemical Processes Group (GPT) of the I3A is researching the use of ammonia as a carbon-free energy vector that could be used in energy production, transport or even in energy storage applications. More than 80% of ammonia is used to produce fertilisers, which means that the storage and distribution infrastructures needed to use it already exist.
- Renewable fuels for a more sustainable society
The CREG (Catalysis, Molecular Separations and Reactor Engineering) research group is investigating how to obtain synthetic natural gas and methanol with new catalytic reactor configurations to increase their performance. This methanol would be obtained at lower cost and with less investment. Methanol is the basis for the production of synthetic liquid fuels, including gasoline and paraffin for aviation, always starting from renewable raw materials such as hydrogen produced in wind farms or photovoltaic plants. Research is also being carried out on how to hydrogenate the CO2 contained in the biogas generated by micro-organisms from solid urban or agro-industrial waste, which can give rise to a "synthetic" natural gas comparable to that which currently reaches our homes.
- Polygeneration systems for energy efficiency
One of the main lines of research of the Thermal Engineering and Energy Systems (GITSE) group is the study of polygeneration systems (water, heat and cold) that would provide several energy products in the same installation. This is a more efficient way of using resources compared to conventional systems, with better performance, lower costs and less environmental impact. A further step would be to incorporate renewable energies (sun, wind, geothermal...) into polygeneration, which would help to achieve a competitive economy in the short or medium term.
- Recycling bio-waste into biofuels for transportation
The Thermochemical Processes Group (GPT) participates in the international project NICER-BIOFUELS in which special attention is paid to the development of fuels for air and land transport and to contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint.
The aim of the project is to create a unique knowledge infrastructure that supports the decentralised, sustainable and cost-effective conversion of bio-waste into sustainable heavy transport fuels (HTB) and that is relevant for both Spain and the EU.
- Packaging for quality and food safety
The main line of research of the Grupo Universitario de Investigación Analítica (GUIA) analyses what can migrate from packaging materials into food under conditions of normal use. They identify the compounds that migrate and establish the risk they may pose to health. They work on new packaging materials, incorporating natural substances that act as protectants against oxidation or microbial contamination, thus protecting the packaged food and extending its shelf life.
- Spagyria, aromatic plants and their laboratory processing
A cross-border cooperation circular and social economy project linking special employment centres and research centres. Development of innovative processes using fully sustainable technologies to create natural cosmetic products with ecological certification. In this case, CO2 is used as a system for extracting essential oils from aromatic plants.
The Circular Economy Lab
It is part of the I3A's Cutting-edge labs project in which there are seven other specialised thematic areas. It carries out research at all levels of industrial preparation, from basic research to applied developments and commercial demonstration plants. It covers the different elements to drive state-of-the-art technologies.
Its work focuses on supporting and connecting the growing Circular Economy research community from the engineering point of view needed to realise it, addressing complex issues and new research challenges through collaborative projects.
Moreover, it promotes and offers opportunities for knowledge transfer; it identifies and offers training courses for students, academics, industry and the third sector and acts as a gateway for technologies from external organisations.
Web: Circular Economy Lab
